Sleigh.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

A. BLLWANGBR.

SLEIGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1005.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed May 3, 1905. Serial No. 258,641.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT ELLWANGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ashby, in the countyof Grant, State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Sleighs; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sleighs.

One object of the invention is to provide a sleigh wherein the bodythereof will be yieldably su ported thereupon and the runners yieldabl ysupported with the latter.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a sleighwherein the runners will be permitted to yield in a longitudinaldirection and the body portion permitted to yield transversely of therunners.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, light,durable, and comparatively inexpensive sleigh capable of fulfilling thecharacteristics mentioned.

Withthese and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the sleighembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the body removed.Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the structure with thebody removed and looking toward the front of the sleigh.

Referring more particularly now to the accompanying drawings, thereference characters 1 and 2 designate runners having their forward endscurved upwardly, as at 3 and 4, respectively. Forward and rearward knees5 6 and 7 8, respectively, are secured upon the runners, extendingupwardly therefrom, each knee having its upper end provided with asocket 9 of cup or other shape, there being a vertical upright 10secured in any suitable manner to the respective sockets 9, the uprightsor shanks 10 being each provided with a cup 11, the oppositely-disposedcups of the uprights or shanks of each knee receiving the balls 12 uponeach end of the transverse cross-pieces 13, there being cups 14 and 15formed upon each transverse cross beam or piece 13, the cups or sockets14 and 15 de pending from said cross-pieces and arranged for thereception of the balls 16 of the inclined braces 17, which latter haveballs at their opposite ends for engagement with the sockets 9 of theknees. This arrangement provides the forward and rearward transversecross pieces or beams immediately above the corresponding forward andrearward knees, with the inclined braces of each cross member 13diverging downwardly from each other therefrom toward the correspondingknees.

Secured to each of the transverse cross members 13 is a bracketincluding upwardlydirected convergent bracket members 18, having ajournal-bearing 19 rigidly secured to their upper ends.

Pivotally connected with each ournalbearing 19 and depending therefromare downwardly-directed portions 20, connected by longitudinal bars ormembers 21, the downwardly-directed and longitudinal portions 20 and 21,respectively, forming a box or body hanger, the box or body hanger 23having trunnions 24 for engagement in the journal-bearings 19 and theupright and longitudinal portions 20 and 21, respectively, beingsecured, respectively, to the ends and bottom of the sleigh body or boxin any suitable manner. The respective ends of the longitudinal bracesare connected together by a suitable cross-piece. (See Fig. 3.)

An car 25 is formed upon each of the trans verse cross members 13intermediate its ends, the ears being arranged in alinement with respectto each other and provided with perforations for the reception of theequalizingbar 26, which latter has depending portions 27, provided withweights 28 at their free ends, the intermediate portion of theequalizing-bar being'provided with a crank-bend 29, to which ispivotally connected a spider 30, which latter is connected with thelongitudinal portion 21 of the hanger which supports the box or body ofthe sleigh.

From the foregoing it will be understoodthat in the event the sleighstrikes an obstruction the ball-and-sooketjoint connec tions of the endsand transverse cross-pieces will permit of a slight longitudinalswinging movement of the sleigh elements, resulting in the same movementof the body thereof and also at the same or other time permitting of aswinging movement of the boX or body transversely of the sleigh byreason of the box or body hanger being connected with the crank portionof the equalizingbar, the weights 28 of the latter serving to hold itnormally in proper position to support the boX or body properly withinthe framework.

It will be also seen from the foregoing that a longitudinal andtransverse yielding movement of the boX or body is permitted, resultingin such degree of yieldability as to provide for much comfort to theoccupants of the sleigh when being drawn over rough or uneven surfaces,all of which is accomplished without the employment of springs. Whilethis longitudinal and transverse yielding is ermitted, the ends of theaforesaid hanger eing connected to the boX or body of the sleigh andclose to brackets 18, together with the fact that the longitudinal bars21 of the hanger are connected to the spider 30, which latter isconnected to the equalizingbar, the longitudinal and transversemovements are limited, the braces 17 serving to prevent inward andoutward movement of the knees and the runners.

What is claimed is 1. In a sleigh including runners, knees connectedwith the runners, transverse beams yieldably associated with the knees,brackets associated with the beams, a hanger pivotally associated withthe brackets, a sleigh-body knees and the beams, brackets mounted uponthe beams, a hanger pivotally associated with the brackets, asleigh-body secured upon the hanger, and a weighted element associatedwith the hanger to prevent undue transverse pivotal movement of thehanger-body.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT ELLWANGER.

Witnesses:

P. G. CowINe, EDWIN ERLSGAARD.

